Cranes star Okello coy on AFC Leopards interest

Allan Okello of Uganda receives player of the match award. [FUFA Media] Uganda Cranes and Vipers play maker Allan Okello has broken his silence over possible interest from sleeping FKF Premier League giants AFC Leopards. USM Alger and Kenyan Premier League giants Gor Mahia are also said to be interested in Okello's services. The 25-year-old midfield wizard, who still has a running contract with the Uganda Premier League (UPL) champions until June 2026, has been a joy to watch at the ongoing 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan) co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Okello is one of the names prominently mentioned in the Leopards' wish-list as they look to bolster their squad ahead of the new 2025/26 season that kicks off on September 20. Ingwe haven't won the Premier League title since 1998. Despite Cranes exiting the tournament after losing 1-0 to defending champions Senegal at the quarter-finals stage at Namboole Stadium, Kampala, on Saturday, the exciting winger left the competition with some pride. Okello is definitely one of the reasons why the Cranes reached the knock-out stage of the 19-team tournament which enters the semi-finals stage today. He was the heartbeat of their attack. Sudan clash with Madagascar in the first semis in Dar es Salaam at 5:30pm before Morocco tackle Senegal in the battle of lions at 8:30pm in Kampala. The former Paradou AC (Algeria) and KCCA FC man scored three goals and provided an assist as well as clinched the man of the match award in their Group C encounter against Guinea. Morocco's Oussama Lamlioui currently leads the scoring chart with four goals. South Africa's Thabiso Kutumela and Soufiane Bayazid (Algeria) are joint second with three goals to their name. Okello's exploits in Chan comes barely four months after he bagged Uganda Premier League Golden Boot with 19 goals and inspired the Venoms to their seventh title. While his future looks uncertain, Okello, who is one of Vipers' most prized assets, remained coy on interest from AFC Leopards insisting he is focused on the new campaign. "I wouldn't comment on that. For me as a player, I'm really happy where I'm today and I'm now waiting to go out there and join my fellow teammates ahead of the new season. But whatever comes in, you never know. I have my dreams to play outside Uganda," Okello told Standard Sports in the mixed zone after Cranes exit from Chan. Okello started off his topflight football at KCCA, who have won Ugandan Premier League titles 13 times, in 2016 before crossing over to Algerian side Paradou AC in 2020. The North African club then loaned him out to KCCA in 2022 before he rejoined them in 2023 for a few months and later joined Vipers as a free agent. Reflecting on Cranes and East African teams' (Harambee Stars and Taifa Stars) general performance in the tournament being used as a dry run for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) to be in the region, Okello said; "I think as a region we did very well. No one really expected us to come out of the group stages. We almost made it into the semi-finals, and I happy to say, we achieved our goal but next time we are going to achieve the other biggest goal." "All the same, this tournament brought us good infrastructure and a lot of development. I believe more to come and with Afcon coming into our region in 2027, more infrastructure will be put up. It has actually helped us as a region and a country."

Cranes star Okello coy on AFC Leopards interest

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Cranes star Okello coy on AFC Leopards interest

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